Mauritius

Mauritius Travel Guide

It's easy to run out of adjectives when describing the natural
beauty of Mauritius, a small tropical paradise found in the Indian
Ocean. Indeed, celebrated author Mark Twain claimed 'Mauritius was
made first, then heaven was copied from it'. The volcanic island
lies east of Madagascar just south of the Equator, covered with
lush forest, streams, and waterfalls, and fringed with palms,
dazzling white sands, and teeming coral reefs.

Mauritius is small, covering just 720 square miles (1,864 sq
km). It is the archetypal dream destination for an idyllic beach
holiday, equipped with modern resorts that have been carefully
developed to preserve the island's beauty.

Since the Portuguese arrived in 1505, the island has been
occupied by the Dutch, the French, and the British. All have
contributed over the centuries to the melting pot that is Mauritian
culture and heritage, along with African slaves, Arab traders, and
indentured Chinese labourers.

Most of the tourist resorts in Mauritius are situated along the
205 mile (330km) coastline, with the capital Port Louis on the west
coast being the centre of operations for most visitors. The bulk of
the population reside on the central plateau around Curepipe, the
island's other major town.

Although everybody who takes a holiday in Mauritius comes for
the sandy beaches and blue lagoons, most are delighted to discover
that the island has plenty of other attractions too, from some of
the world's rarest stamps to the first ever race course to open in
the southern hemisphere.

Although everybody who takes a holiday in Mauritius comes for
the sandy beaches and blue lagoons, most are delighted to discover
that the island has plenty of other attractions too, from some of
the world's rarest stamps to the first ever race course to open in
the southern hemisphere.

Of course, no holiday would be complete without good food and
entertainment, and Mauritius offers both. The delicious local
cuisine makes use of tropical fruits and vegetables, and the chance
to learn the island's indigenous wild dance, the Sega, which
originated among African slaves.